CCM Radio Perspectives

CCM Radio Perspectives

By Keith Stevens

PD /PM Drive KTIS

Breaking The Mold

October 5, 2018

That's the key that keeps listeners coming back for more. If you are hosting a show and you feel you are doing the same thing day after day, how about mixing it up? Add in some new elements, fresh benchmarks, or new concepts.

Work to say things differently than you have in the past. One of the great things about our fundraisers at KTIS is that it's a chance to break the mold and shake things up a bit. We always take the opportunity to add new voices, different stories, live callers, and create a fun party atmosphere, including unpredictable guests, phone center conversations, or artists who may call in as well.

Granted, we don't change who we are as air personalities, but the skills to work individually or as a team need to be deep inside each one of us. So, when you go back and listen to the aircheck, you hear something fresh, different and new.

Each fundraiser, we prepare new music beds, testimonials, and conversations with our station donors and partners. Instead of viewing fundraisers as "boring"-why not inject some energy? Make it fun! Give away some unique items that make the show remarkable. Plan out your hours ahead of time so you know the theme, and jump right in with a goal.

One of the things I introduced years ago at a fundraiser was the concept of engaging the listener after each and every song. So, instead of coming on every two or three songs, we crack the mic with a targeted, short break after each song highlighting a story. Ten years later, it seems foreign to even think of airing two song segues during a fundraiser, and the concept has spread across America.

Think about it: something that simple is quite unpredictable to our regular listener and stretches our air talent to constantly create and execute simple, yet, compelling content after each song.

There are so many ways to turn an otherwise predictable fundraiser into something energetic and new. So next time during your fundraiser, give it a try! Because I believe radio's most beautiful moments are unpredictable.

Keith Stevens

Keith Stevens is Program Director/Afternoons at KTIS/Minneapolis, and co-host with Donna Cruz on the popular CCM national show Keep the Faith, heard in cities across America. He worked at Z100/New York in the late 80's as "Bubba" on the Z-Morning Zoo and on-air weekends. Keith served as PD at WWDJ/New York, andas APD/Afternoons at Star 99.1, with part-time stops along the way at Q104.3/New York, and Y100/Philly.

Keith is married to his wife Sue. They have four sons, two dogs, one snow plow, and live in Minneapolis.